Heather Moffet and other treeless saddles

[heathera]

I was hoping that those of you with these would be willing to give an update on how well they are working for you a few years on from when we last chatted about them.

At the moment I have two WOW saddles. One fits Rose and Merlin with different saddle cloths and shims underneath for each pony and the other fits Tola. Legato is going to need his own saddle and set up entirely.

I can ride the girls out together, or Tola and Merlin out together but not Merlin and Rose which is a combination I need to be able to do.

What I'm wondering is, if I went to a HM or other treeless that fitted all three Dales, I could have one WOW fitted to Legato and the other fitted to Rose/Merlin. Then I could use the treeless on Tola as her sole saddle and on either Merlin or Rose if I wanted to take them out together.

I tried one a few years ago Rose and I both hated it but I hear the stirrup attachment has changed since then and the design has evolved. I'm concerned about the white hairs issue that Saturn had as I've found a few stories now about that occurring. I'm also worried about how wide they are.

Is the Vogue narrower in the twist for the rider? Does it seem to give the same white hair, panel pressure problems as the Phoenix?

Whatever I buy has to be suitable for doing dressage and TREC so some of the less traditional looking treeless are totally out. I also have limited budget otherwise I'd just buy more WOW saddles so a Solutions/Ansur saddle isn't an option either.

[harveydales]

Have PMd you

[dalesponyrider]

I am using a treed saddle at the moment Heather due to the white hairs that looked as if they were due to stirrup bar pressure. I had the new girthing system too. I have received a few emails/pms from people with similar problems. The Smartpanel is supposed to put this right but I am not happy using a big pad to diffuse pressure that shouldn't be there in the first place. However, ALL saddles are bound to produce pressure of some sort.

Everone with white hairs under the stirrup bars that I have had contact with, have had this problem after sustained mileage. Both the SBS and Fhoenix did this with me when I was riding long distances twice a week.

The saddle I would really like but can't afford now is the Barry Swaine Semi Flex! This one sits really nicely on Saturn's back!

[heathera]

The replies on here and those I've had on another discussion board have helped me make my mind up that I'm just going to keep hunting on e-bay for second hand WOW saddles. Thanks for the feedback, it is appreciated.

[SuzieP]

Have you looked at the FreeNEasy saddles Heather? My cousin uses them for the Clydesdales and wouldn't buy anything else. They're a bit odd looking, but all the horses have well muscled backs and wear the saddles for long day-rides and trails.

www.fnesaddles.com/fne_saddle_design_benefits.shtml

I'd love one for Bea.

[heathera]

I'd rather have a second hand WOW than an FnE but thanks forthe suggestion. The idea behind having a treeless saddle though was that I could use it on more than one without having to adjust it twice a day.

[SuzieP]

D'oh! I hadn't thought of that, Heather - the adjusting to fit that is. Sorry!

I'll keep my eyes open round here for a Wow and let you know if I spot anything. They're sometimes advertised in the tack shops.

[harleydales]

Free n Easy's are lovely but the adjusting is a bit fiddly - needs 2 spanners and 6 hands! Esp when you've borrowed one and are terrified you're going to drop it and mark it!!

[tinkerdorisalison]

Hi Heather - only just seen this, as you know I had a HM the original type, ended up selling it as although I found it fine to ride in, everyone else who rode just didn't get on with it at all !

I would have another but I do fancy a WOW, not enough money tho